Amid urban walkability push, zoning stalls some projects
Development restrictions along the route of IndyGo’s future Blue Line intended to foster transit-oriented development have created difficulties for two projects along East Washington Street.
Government & Economic Development
Articles
City seeks to curb violence on eve of WNBA All-Star Game
Indianapolis leaders and event organizers are in a race against the clock to quell a recent spate of downtown violence before next weekend when the city hosts the WNBA All-Star Game and Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration, two of the biggest events on this year’s calendar.
Trump to put 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea
President Trump provided notice of the tariffs to begin on Aug. 1 by posting letters on Truth Social that warned both countries to not retaliate by increasing their own import taxes.
Indianapolis biz leader picked to lead new state Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Indiana’s new Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation is expected to focus on Main Street businesses—small businesses that are not venture-backed, not easily scaled and found in many towns and cities across the state.
As new tax bill takes effect, local officials fret
Municipal government leaders across Indiana are going pale in the face while they review budget forecasts for the next few years as a sweeping property tax relief law takes effect.
Amid ongoing Elevate Ventures funding freeze, some companies approved for investments
Also, at Wednesday’s meeting, the IEDC board’s entrepreneurship committee updated the investment policy for the Indiana Angel Network Fund III LLC—the investment fund managed by Elevate Ventures through which the SSBCI money flows.
IEDC board approves incentives for four planned data center projects
The Indiana Economic Development Corp. estimates that the data center incentives are worth an estimated $168 million in total tax savings for the combined projects over the next 35 years.
Braun replaces IEDC board with 9 new members
The sweeping move fulfills a pledge Braun made Thursday when he confirmed he planned to dismantle and reconstruct the existing board of the state’s economic development agency.
Indiana’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to be ‘front door’ for entrepreneurs, small business owners
But with that two-year spending plan set to take effect on July 1, it’s still not clear what the office will do and who will lead it.
Governments face state deadline to start livestreaming meetings
The law, passed in 2023, covers public meetings held by state boards and commissions; elected school boards; county commissions; and county, city and town councils.
Funding for workforce training, manufacturing readiness and flight incentives in limbo after state budget cuts
Business leaders are encouraging state commerce officials to retain the programs that have led to what they say has been a “strong ROI” in the past.
State hires firm specializing in ‘crisis and transformation’ to audit IEDC
Gov. Mike Braun announced the audit last month, citing potential “impropriety” at the IEDC. He also announced a freeze of all state funds associated with Elevate Ventures.
Hoosier business executives say to voice tariff concerns, find alternative trade pathways
Representatives from Eli Lilly, Cook Medical and other Hoosier businesses gave advice about tariffs during the Indiana District Export Council’s annual trade and business conference Thursday at Newfields.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young partners on bipartisan bill to jumpstart domestic shipbuilding industry
Young, R-Indiana, and fellow Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, reintroduced legislation to jumpstart the country’s “rusted” shipbuilding industry and increase onshore ship production that has largely shifted to China.
SK Hynix project wins key zoning approval after community uproar extends meeting until morning
The South Korean chip maker’s proposed $3.87 billion manufacturing campus in Indiana is still on track after the West Lafayette City Council approved the request following a 7-hour public meeting.
Fire departments paying more for trucks that take longer to get
Cities and their fire departments are feeling the strain as post-pandemic wait times and costs for new fire trucks have shot up—due in part to industry consolidation.
Legislative session was mixed bag for business
Business owners can expect some tax relief and a new state small business office, but the Indiana Economic Development Corp. will have less money for some of its operations and programs under the next two-year budget.
Braun signs bill to create IEDC land-purchase guardrails, new state business office
The bipartisan bill requires the IEDC to be more transparent when it makes large land purchases for major projects like the massive LEAP business park in Boone County.
Pricing legislation shows health reform complexities
Indiana lawmakers discovered this legislative session that performing major financial surgery on multibillion-dollar nonprofit hospital systems is a motley and entangled task.
Small retailers fear a lack of resources, time to ride out tariff results
Retailers across the Indianapolis area and across the country are bracing for the full impact of recent Trump administration tariffs, which they see as an immediate threat to their businesses.